Oktoberfest to benefit Siloam Springs Museum

The third annual Oktoberfest: Tap into History will offer a glimpse of Siloam Springs' past while highlighting local beers.

The German-style pub crawl, planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, will serve as a fundraiser for the Siloam Springs Museum.

The evening will begin at Ivory Bill Brewing, located at 516 E. Main Street, where patrons will get a chance to learn about the building's connection to Siloam Springs' hula hoop industry, get a tour of the brewing process and then get a sample of the beer, according to Don Warden, museum director. The group will progress together to Ziggywurst at 214 N. Wright St., before making their way to the final stop at Creekside Taproom, located at 100-2 E. Alpine St, where musician Pat Ran Key will perform from 8 to 10 p.m.

The event offers a way for the community to engage with the museum outside of normal business hours, especially while it's closed for renovations, according to Laura Klenda, chairperson for the museum's activities and events committee. The museum building is currently under construction but is expected to reopen in early 2019.

"It's really a way for people to engage with the museum and with history," she said.

Another way the museum is reaching out to the community while it is closed is through a display at Generations Bank, highlighting local history, Warden said.

Klenda said the pub crawl is the organization's main fundraiser of the year and proceeds from the event will help fund new exhibits when the museum opens next year.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and include three pours, a one-year membership to the museum and registration for a gift basket raffle. Alcohol-free tickets, without the three pours of beer, are also available for $15 and include a one-year museum membership and registration for the raffle.

Tickets can be purchased online at the Tap into History, benefiting the Siloam Springs Museum Eventbrite page or by mailing checks to the Siloam Springs Museum at P.O. Box 1164. For more information call 479-524-4011.